How strong do you like your dram?

If you are into drinking your dram cask strength you might be interested in this: Bruichladdich Distillery on Islay announced the following.....

We are pleased to announce the world’s most alcoholic single malt ever made by reviving the ancient tradition of quadruple distilled single malt more than 300 years ago the legendary traveller Martin Martin recorded his impressions after encountering a similar whisky on his visit to the Hebrides in 1695.

In his travel book, The Western Islands of Scotland, Martin refers to a quadruple distilled whisky known as “usquebaugh-baul” - the Gaelic for ‘perilous whisky’ (thanks to Pat Mcgregor for the translation) and wrote what is probably the world’s oldest whisky tasting note:

"… the first taste affects all the members of the body: two spoonfuls of this last liquor is a sufficient dose; and if any man should exceed this, it would presently stop his breath, and endanger his life.”

Our aim was to replicate this 300 year old tasting note from this ancient recipe - and we have: the spirit run started at 11.30 on Monday the February 27th.

Jim’s tasting note on the new spirit: “The whisky first ran at 92% down to 88% which will make an average of about 90%. It is very similar to the whisky tasted by Martin all those years ago. On entry the flavour is cool, fizzy, citrus - lemon and honey, then the taste of soft gooseberry and pear in syrup evolve as it glides across the palette with cereal and toasted muffins in the slipstream. There is no evidence of the power at this stage because the viscosity is almost like glycerine, however as it engages the taste receptors at the back of the tongue it really hits the booster button and an amazing heat floods deep into the chest. It’s brilliantly fresh and fizzy with an extremely pleasant afterburner effect and leaves an aftertaste that is superb, not long but unforgettable - believe me”. My tasting note was a some what shorter “Wough!”

We have filled 54 American Oak casks for maturation. It will lose strength to the angels as it matures. When it is deemed to be ready to drink by Master Distiller Jim McEwan, it will be Islay bottled at the strength deemed appropriate at that time.

Some will be further matured for the maximum term: starting with such high alcohol, this unique whisky will still be maturing well in to it’s seventieth year. Another first.